Men's Terrex Skychaser AX5 GORE-TEX Mid Hiking Shoes vs Men Mephisto Curt Mt SNEAKER: which is safer?
Men Mephisto Curt Mt SNEAKER is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Adidas
Men's Terrex Skychaser AX5 GORE-TEX Mid Hiking Shoes
PFAS grade
Bad 20/100
Overall grade
Bad 0/100
Verdict
Skip
Hazard flags
⚑ 2
Material
GORE-TEX membrane (Teflon-family coating-based waterproof layer)
Confidence
45%
PossibleFormaldehyde-release resins in adhesives and coatings
LikelyVolatile organic compounds (VOCs) from foam and synthetic materials
Our pick
Mephisto
Men Mephisto Curt Mt SNEAKER
PFAS grade
Good 65/100
Overall grade
Good 59/100
Verdict
Skip
Hazard flags
⚑ 1
Material
leather, textile, rubber sole
Confidence
55%
PossibleVolatile organic compounds (VOC) off-gassing from adhesives
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Formaldehyde-release resins in adhesives and coatings and Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from foam and synthetic materials on the Adidas and not on the Mephisto.
- We flag Volatile organic compounds (VOC) off-gassing from adhesives on the Mephisto and not on the Adidas.
- The Adidas is GORE-TEX membrane (fluoropolymer-based waterproof layer) where the Mephisto is leather, textile, rubber sole, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- The gap is 45 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Mephisto is the one to buy.
Both products run through the same public rubric, which covers materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →
More waterproof boots, see the full ranking